Synchronized control gear



June 1o, 1947.

W. HUGHES SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet lwww w A z ,4 m, u M M 9 N 0..; Q Q Q .mwN/Q m@ A n ,n ,Q :Q QQ w w mw*NIIM*`\WN TL H Tina. n, N` 1,/ /9 f 5 .6 .GQ 8 a w, M

June 10, 1947. w HUGHES 2,421,944

SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR Filed sept.-4, i945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented`lune 10, 1947 SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL GEAR William Hughes, Consett,England Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,353 In GreatBritain March 2, 1943 (Cl. ZPL-23) 6 Claims.

This invention consists in synchronised control gear for two machineswhich have to work in conjunction with each other, such as coke ovenmachinery and the like.

On a modern battery of coke ovens serviced by machines electricallyoperated it is of the utmost importance that the coke ramming machine(variously called the ram or the coke pusher) operating on what is knownas the ram or pusher side of the battery should commence to push ordischarge the coke from the same oven as that which the operator of thecoke guide (the primary machine) has selected and prepared for on thefront of what is known as the coke or bench side of the battery.

Owing to the fundamental structural design of a battery of coke ovens itis not possible for the operator of either the coke guide or the cokeram to see the movements of the other machine, and as present methods ofselecting the oven for discharging operations on the ram side rely uponthe human element it all too frequently occurs that the ramming ordischarging operation is commenced on an oven other than that which theoperator of the coke guide has selected and from which he has preparedhis machine to receive the coke on the coke or bench side. Such anoccurrence invariably results in serious damage to the oven walls,structural work and fittings, with consequent loss of output. There isalso grave risk to human life on the coke side of the battery.

The object of this invention is to provide means for ensuring that themachines which are to cooperate can only be brought into operation whenthey are in the correct individual positions for such cooperation, forexample in the case of machines for the discharge of a coke ovenbattery, that both the coke guide and the coke ram are in positiondirectly opposite the cor rect oven before the discharging operation canbe commenced.

According to the invention means are provided whereby each machine sendselectric impulses to control a corresponding movable member in such away that the positions of such movable members correspond respectivelyto the positions of the machines, and the desired co-operation betweenthe machines is controlled by an electric circuit which includes switchcontacts adapted to be closed only when the positions of the saidmovable members correspond to the relative appropriate positions of themachines.

The movable members may comprise two discs which are adapted to befractionally rotated in either direction by the electric impulses whichactuate double-acting electric escapement mechanisms each of which isadapted to engage in succession one of a series of projections arrangednear the periphery of a disc, the direction of movement of theescapement mechanism depending on the direction of travel of itsrespectivemachine, while on the said discs there are mutually coactingcontact members which are adapted to close the control circuit only whenthe machines are in the relative appropriate positions.

rihe means for generating the impulses may comprise a two-way switch oneach machine, which switch is adapted to be actuated by proliectionsarranged along the path traversed by the machine, such projectionscorresponding with definite positions along the said path-for example inthe case of a battery of coke ovens, there may be one projection to eachcoke oven, the said projections being adapted to move the switch intoeither of its two ways according to the direction of travel of themachine.

The invention will now be described by way oi example with reference tothe accompanying drawings which show its application to a battery ofcoke ovens.

In the said drawingsW Fig. l is a diagram showing the electrical lay outof the system.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one arrangement of the movable members.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, l indicates a battery of cokeovens on each end 0f all of which there is projecting stalk, those onthe coke ram side being indicated by the series a, o1 and those on thecoke guide side by the series b, b1 2 indicates the coke ram, and 2x thecoke guide. 4 are the positive and negative power trolley lines feedingthe coke ram 2, and 5, 6 those feeding the coke guide 2x; while 1, 8 areauxiliary trolley lines for passing impulses from the coke guide 2x tothe coke ram 2 on which a rotatable disc switch is convenientlysituated, and the said lines being bridged by a conductor 9.

The disc switch comprises two rotatable members driven intermittently byseparate motors indicated at il), H. The other members of the rotatableswitch are not shown in Fig. l, but one example of such a switch will bedescribed hereinafter with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The

motor I) is actuated from the coke ram, and the motor II from the cokeguide through the guide trolley I2 and the ram trolley I3 and the linesl, S, S. Power is collected by the coke ram 2 by means of the normaltrolleys I4, I5 which communicate with a double pole switch IB forcontrolling the driving gea1` etc. of the vehicle. Connections are takenfrom the switch I5 to a second double-pole switch II which controls atwo-way pendulum switch I8 whose common contact is connected to thearmature of the coke ram motor I of the rotatable switch, and its twocontacts to the two sides of the power supply. The other terminal of themotor I0 is connected to the neutral point of a balance resistance I9.

The pendulum i811, of the switch I8 projects into the path of the seriesof stalks a, a1 so that as the ram is moved along the coke ovens, switchI8 is closed once as it passes each oven, and according to the directionof travel of the coke ram so either a positive or negative currentimpulse will be generated. In the arrangement sh'own, if the coke ram ismoved to the right the stalk a9 will close the switch I8 so that itspositive contact will be brought into operation, while if the ram ismoved to the left, the stalk a8 will close the switch and its negativecontact will be brought into operation.

The coke guide 2x collects its power from the power trolley lines-5, 6through the trolleys 28, 2i and the double pole switches 22, 23 similarto those on the ram 2, the latter switch controlling a `pendulum switch24 similar to that on the ram. The common contact of the switch 24communicates with the trolley I2, so that the impulses are transmittedthrough the line 1, 9, 8 and ram trolley I8 to the motor II of the guideside of the rotatable switch. The other terminal of the motor I I isconnected to the neutral point of the resistance I9. The field windingsof both motors are continuously separately excited and their nelds aretherefore constant. It will be seen that as in the case of the coke ram,as the coke guide moves along the coke ovens, the pendulum switch 2stwill be closed successively by the stalks b, b1 and will send positiveor negative impulses to the motor I I according to the direction oftravel, for example from the position shown if the guide moves to theright, the stalk b will close the switch 2d and a negative impulse willbe generated, while if the movement be to the left, the stalk b willclose th'e switch and a positive impulse will be generated.

rIhe use of a single line for transmitting the impulses is made possibleby the inclusion of the balance resistance I9. The resistance I9 isconnected across the supply source and is divided into two sections ofthe same value separated by a neutral point to which the one terminal oieach of the motors I0 and II are connected. Assuming the guide 2a: ismoving to the right; the switch 24 is closed by the stalk h6 with theresult that negative impulse is generated. This impulse is transmittedalong the line I2, 1, 9, 8 and I3 to the motor II, thence to the neutralpoint of the resistance I9, along the positive side of the saidresistance to the positive terminal of the switch Il. Actually thecurrent flow is from the ram power line 3, its trolley I4 the positivesides of the switch'es IB and I1, thence along the positive side of theresistance I9, through the neutral point to the motor I I, thencethrough the trolley I3, auxiliary lines 8, 9, 1, guide trolley i2,negative contact of the switch 24, thence through the negative terminalsof the switches 23 and. 22, trolley 2I to the negative guide power line.

It will be seen that with this arrangement impulses are added to orsubtracted from the two portions of the rotatable switch according tothe directions of movement of the two vehicles. Hence by adjusting therotatable switch members to be in synchronism when the guide and ram areopposite the same oven, it follows that whenever the two vehicles areopposite an oven at the same time the switch members will always be insynchronism and the switch members therefore operative, while when thevehicles are opposite dilerent ovens they will be out of synchronism andthe switch therefore inoperative. Hence it is impossible to operate thevarious discharging apparatus unless the two vehicles are opposite thesame oven.

Figs. 2 and 3 show one form of rotatable switch. This comprises twosimilar portions driven by the motors Il and II respectively. The onlydifference between the two portions is in the machine position discs 25,26-hereinafter described-the ram discs 25 having mounted thereon aswitch' whose contacts are connected to slip rings 23, Z5 contactingwith terminals 30, 3i which are themselves connected to the controlcircuit of the ram pushing mechanism; while the guide disc 23 hasprojecting therefrom a, rigid stalk S2 which is adapted to close theswitch 21 when it comes opposite the latter, this condition onlyoccurring when the two vehicles are opposite the same oven.

The fractional rotation of the discs 25 and 26 will be described withreference to the ram disc 25 only as the two movements are identical.The drive of the motor I0 is `transmitted through a centrifugal clutch33 which is counter-weighted to return to its Zero or initial positionwhen the drive of the motor has ceased. The driven member of the clutch33 is connected by wires 34 to a horizontal twoway motion bar 35slidably mounted on the switch frame between two tension springs 38which are adjustable to maintain the said motion bar in a centralposition. The bar S5 has rigidly mounted thereon equidistant from itscenter line two pawls 37, 38 which are adapted to engage laterallyprojecting pins 25a on the disc 2% so that according to the direction ofrotation of the motor one or the other of the said pawls will engage apin 25a and drive the disc 25 in either a, clockwise direction orcounterclockwise direction.

In order to prevent overrunning of the disc 25 a swinging quadrant arm39 is pivotally mounted in the middle o the bar 35, the lower end of thesaid arm being slotted to engage a stationary pin 4G, while its upperend h'as formed thereon a quadrant a. When the pawl 31, for example, isactuated as a result of the movement to the right oi the bar 35, the bar39 will swing to the right and during the movement of the disc 25 underthe actuation of the said pawl, will pass between two adjacent pins 25a.and so prevent further movement of the disc.

When the apparatus is boing initially serviced, the stall; 32 must closethe switch 2l when the two machines are in their respective positions,that is to say when they are both opposite the same oven.

I claim:

l. A system for synchronously controlling a plurality of machines whichhaveto work in conjunction with one another, in a series of positionscomprising electrical impulse generating means associated with eachmachine, a corresponding movable member associated with each machine,said movable members being adapted to be operated by the impulses of theimpulse generating means of its associated machine, in such a mannerthat the positions of said movable members correspond respectively tothe positions of their machines, and switch means controlled by saidmovable means, in such a manner that they close only when said movablemembers are in position corresponding to the desired cooperatingpositions`of said machines.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members compriserotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery ofeach of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each ofsaid discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one ofthe projections on its respective dis the impulse generating meanscomprising twoway switch means whereby the direction of movement of eachescapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of itsrespective machine, and mutually 'coacting contact members which areadapted to coact and close the control circuit only when the machinesare in the desired cooperating positions.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members compriserotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery ofeach of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each ofsaid discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one ofthe projections on its respective disc, the impulse generating meanscomprising two-way switch means whereby the direction of movement ofeach escapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of itsrespective machine, mutually coacting contact members which are adaptedto coact and close the control circuit only when the machines are in thedesired cooperating positions and means for preventing overrunning ofsaid discs.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the movable members compriserotatable discs, a series of projections arranged near the periphery ofeach of said discs, a double acting escapement mechanism for each ofsaid discs, said mechanism being adapted to engage in succession one ofthe projections on its respective disc, the impulse generating meanscomprising two-way switch means whereby the direction of movement ofeach escapement mechanism depends on the direction of travel of itsrespective machine, mutually coacting contact members which are adaptedto coact and close the control circuit only when the machines are in thedesired c0- operating positions and means for preventing overrunning cisaid discs said means comprising an abutment member which on theactuation of the escapement mechanism is adapted to pass between twoadjacent projections on a disc and so prevent further rotation of thedisc at the end of the movement of the escapement mechanism.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electric impulse generatingmeans comprise a series of projections arranged along the path or"travel of each machine, a two-way switch on each machine, a projectingmember on said switch, said projecting member being adapted to cooperatewith said projections in succession, so that one or other of thecontacts of said twoway switch are brought into play according to thedirection of movement of the machine and a positive or negative impulsethus generated and the corresponding movable member rotated in one orother direction accordingly.

6. A system for synchronously controlling the coke ramming machine andthe coke guide machine for the servicing of a battery oi coke ovens,said machines being adapted for travelling along paths in front and backof said battery, comprising a Series of projections arranged along saidpaths, a two-way switch on each machine, a projecting member on eachswitch; said projecting member being adapted to cooperate with saidprojections in succession, so that one or other of the contacts of saidswitch are brought into play according to the direction of movement ofthe machine and a positive or negative impulse thus generated,escapement mechanism adapted to be actuated by said impulses, arotatable switch disc adapted to be actuated by said escapementmechanism and contacts on said disc switches arranged so that when thetwo machines are in the desired position for cooperating, said contactsclose the control circuit so that the coke ramming machine may beoperated to push out the coke from an oven into the coke guide on theother side of said oven.

WILLIAM HUGHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,248 Duane Dec. 31, 19011,112,978 Carpenter et al. Oct. 6, 1914 1,368,163 Keigley Feb. 8, 19211,500,526 Porter July 8, 1924

